Keenly anticipated each year by winemakers, collectors and wine lovers, the Australian Wine Companion is recognised nationally as the industry benchmark. The 2014 edition has been completely revised to bring you up-to-the-minute information. In his inimitable style, James Halliday shares his extensive knowledge of wine through detailed tasting notes, each with vintage-specific ratings and advice on optimal drinking as well as each wines closure, alcohol content and price. He provides information about wineries and winemakers, including vineyard sizes, opening times and contact details. The Australian Wine Companion is an indispensable reference from the countrys leading wine authority and a must-have guide for anyone visiting a winegrowing region, or wanting to replenish their cellar or wine rack. Features- Full tasting notes for 4009 wines- Ratings, drink-to dates and prices for a further 2207 wines- 94 new wineries- 1396 winery profiles- Best of the best wines by variety- Section on varietal wine styles and regions- Vintage rating charts for each region- Regional index showing availability of food, accommodation, music events and cellar-door sales- A full-colour map of the wine regions of AustraliaRespected wine critic and vigneron James Halliday AM has a career that spans over forty years, but he is most widely known for his witty and informative writing about wine. As one of the founders of Brokenwood in the Lower Hunter Valley, New South Wales, and thereafter of Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, James is an unmatched authority on every aspect of the wine industry, from the planting and pruning of vines through to the creation and marketing of the finished product. His winemaking has led him to sojourns in Bordeaux and Burgundy, and he has had a long career as a wine judge in Australia and overseas. In 1995 he received the wine industrys ultimate accolade, the Maurice OShea Award. In 2010 James was made a Member of the Orde